Thank You Ma’am by Langston Hughes

In “Thank You, Ma’am,” what theme is the author, Langston Hughes, exploring?

• the importance of hard work for all.

• the threat of crime against the elderly.

• the difficulties of poverty for the young.

• the importance of honesty and trust.

Why does Roger attempt to steal Mrs. Jones’s handbag?

• He is a criminal, and Mrs. Jones looks like easy prey.

• He wants to buy himself a pair of blue suede shoes.

• He is hungry and needs her money to buy food.

• He wants to give the money as a gift to his own mother.

What can the reader assume about Mrs. Jones’s life as a younger woman?

• She had worked hard all of her life.

• She had raised her own sons well.

• She had made mistakes in the past.

• She had often been arrested.

What does the following sentence mean: "“He did not trust the woman not to trust him”?

• Roger doesn’t entirely trust Mrs. Jones at this time.

• Roger wants her to see that he can be trusted.

• Roger knows that he isn’t trustworthy.

• Roger needs to see what Mrs. Jones is doing.

What does the author mean by "shoes got by devilish ways will burn your feet"?

• It means that the shoes will burn his feet.

• If you steal money to buy shoes, guilt will burn your feet.

• It means that the shoes will be ugly.

• It means that the shoes won’t fit his feet.

Why does Roger sit on the far side of the room when Mrs. Jones goes behind the screen?

• He is frightened she is phoning the police.

• He does not want to smell the food she is cooking.

• He wants to hide behind the screen so he can steal her money.

• He wants her to see that he isn’t stealing from her purse.

Which idea does the theme of “Thank you, Ma’am” deal with? 

• the value of kindness

• the value of the dollar

• the value of hard work

• the value of city life

We can infer that Roger is poor or has no one to really watch over him because…

• he was trying to steal.

• his face was dirty.

• his hair was not combed.

• all the answers are correct.

Why is Roger scared at first in Mrs. Jones’s home?

• Mrs. Jones is a strong, large woman.

• He fears that she will turn him over to the police.

• She talks so fast that he can’t understand her.

• He thinks she has kidnapped him.

What happens when Roger tries to steal Mrs. Jones's purse ?

• He changes his mind because he knows stealing is wrong.

• He changes his mind because he is frightened.

• The purse is so heavy that he loses his balance and falls.

• He runs away but is caught by another person.